‘Explosive’ Falcons just opened season with a dud
What do they say about a picture telling a story? This one of Matt Ryan explains Falcons' day.
CHICAGO – When the Falcons said they wanted to get more explosive this season, did they mean like Wile E. Coyote explosive?
They said the intent was to open up the offense. Stretch defenses. They said they wanted to get more aggressive on defense. Pressure opposing quarterbacks. Let it fly, baby. Light the fuse. Problem is, when you don’t follow your own directions, it’s easy to inadvertently wire your big toe to the ACME dynamite kit. Then when you push the plunger on the season opener . . .
Boom!
The Falcons opened the season Sunday. Three hours later, all the remained was a pile of ashes.
Chicago Bears 30, Falcons 12. How’s that for your potential Super Bowl team? Instead of giving you a reason to forget their 48-21 playoff loss to Green Bay last January, the Falcons succeeded only in extending the hangover. They have been outscored in their last two games by 45 points.
And about that 0-4 record in the preseason. Maybe it’s not so meaningless after all.
“Stunned is an understatement,” linebacker Mike Peterson said.
“This isn’t what we planned on — it was awful,” Roddy White said.
It was worse than that. It was inexcusable.
Was all that talk about explosiveness just lip service? This was a season opener. This game followed months of hearing coaches, players and the front office talking about the need for wows and pyrotechnics on both sides of the ball. The Falcons traded a blur of draft picks so they could move up to draft wide receiver Julio Jones. They snagged defensive end Ray Edwards in free agency. They talked a big game.
But when the gates open, they pressed the trigger and a flag saying, “Bang!” popped out. The Bears didn’t play dead.
Many Falcons players chose to credit Chicago’s defense for playing a strong game and taking away the deep threat. But quarterback Matt Ryan and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey seldom left the impression they were in attack mode. Ryan never threw deep. Never. He says he thought about it several times but there was nothing there. Ryan also committed two horrific mistakes — an interception by Brian Urlacher, which led to a second-quarter touchdown when the game was still 3-3, and fumbling in the third quarter, leading to an Urlacher return for another score.
Ryan also was hoping to leave his Green Bay playoff performance behind him. This didn’t help. He has five turnovers and one touchdown pass in his last two games.
The Falcons didn’t just look bad. They self-destructed. They did things that good teams, let alone Super Bowl contenders, never should do. The defense missed tackles, took bad angles on plays and blew coverages. They turned Jay Cutler (312 yards, two touchdowns) into Sid Luckman. They introduced Roy Williams, who got drop-kicked out of Dallas, to relevancy.
They were beat physically. Chicago defense may be good but it’s hardly Monsters, redux. This isn’t 1941 or 1985.
Offensively, the Falcons looked and played timid. They lined up White on one side, Jones on the other, and Tony Gonzalez and Harry Douglas between the two, as advertised. Then they cowered. Chicago often dropped eight players into coverage and taking away the deep ball. But don’t great players and great coaches adjust? They make plays. Instead, we were subjected to four quarters of check-downs.
Coach Mike Smith acknowledged the poor performance but he tried to temper concerns with, “Let’s not say the sky is falling.”
Gonzalez also sought to calm the masses.
“People outside the organization are going to push the panic button,” he said. “They’re going to think, ‘Oh my God. Overhyped. Over this. Over that. You know what? They’re full of it. If you want to think that, go ahead. Maybe it sells papers. Maybe it gives people something to talk about. But it’s one game. We’ve got the players to do something special. We just have to go out next week and play better. And we will next week, I guarantee it.”
Nobody should doubt the Falcons can still be a great team. But opening performances like this tend to alter perspectives, especially with Michael Vick and Philadelphia coming to the Georgia Dome next week.
Overhyped? It’s probably too early for such proclamations. But it would at least be nice to see the Falcons attempt what they advertised.
By Jeff Schultz
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750 comments Add your comment
Brannigan
September 11th, 2011
10:31 pm
I cant figure out why everyone over looked the Bears. They would have beat the Packers last year in the NFC championship game had Cutler not gotten injured. No need to panic. We’ll win our share. Just need to clean up the tackling and work on protections for Ryan.
John
September 11th, 2011
10:32 pm
Stat Man…I only said your stats was subjective truths, and obviously they are. You claimed that Vick didn’t beat 10 win teams, and I merely stated that the 8 win teams in his division he beat each team twice, preventing them both from making the playoffs.
Falconfan
September 11th, 2011
10:32 pm
It’s simple really, I don’t care who the qb is, if there is no pass protection, they all look bad. I missed the Dahl trade reporting but I was concerned when I heard it. Dahl had a rep as a tought, intimidating, and dirty player. He may have been the spirit of the OL. I don’t know but I heard he was good. Is his non-presence the reason the OL played so poorly? I thought the GM was supposed to have a nose for talent. What happened here? Anyway, first game but this was not what you want to see anytime. They were beaten in every phase of the game and this always goes back to coaching. Forget criticism of Matt, ask what in the hell happened to the coaching? The team was not ready. What changed from last year?
Jimmy
September 11th, 2011
10:32 pm
MM:
As for the Braves…people criticized them for never winning a WS.
After the won it all once…they criticize them for not winning more.
Some people…who have an agenda…will find a way to criticize.
That’s what all this Matt Ryan criticism sounds like…just a few attention starved trolls who will find a way to criticize no matter what.
I remember when people said Ryan never brought the team from behind in the regular season.
Now that he’s done it…they say he hasn’t done it in the playoffs.
Please.
Big Wally
September 11th, 2011
10:32 pm
Duntae Robinson should be benched. He either played drunk today, or he is very uncoordinated. He fell down every other play. I’ve seen toddlers learning how to work stay upright better than did today.
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
10:33 pm
The love affair with TD is over for me.He signs second rate free agents who are not impact players. he fails to draft good cbs. The Eagles sign difference makers like Namdi and others. Our players are simply average and our defensive schemes are average. Does anybody think if we had hired Ryan that our D would still suck? most of the guys couldn’t start on the Jets. This team has been lucky and is regressing.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 11th, 2011
10:33 pm
“I just can’t figure out your instant infatuation with Cam Newton. One freakin’ game against the Cardinals. smh.”
I like players from Atlanta in every sport, so I am inclined to be a Cam fan. Aside from that, nothing. If he had gone 7 for 21 today like I expected him to, I wouldn’t be posting about him here.
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
10:34 pm
Our best D players were brought in by Mckay. It’s time to start calling TD a failure. He drafted Ryan, who is regressing also.
phil
September 11th, 2011
10:34 pm
Billy O
September 11th, 2011
7:39 pm
It’s just one game….we played lousy….we’ll do better next week….
<<<<<<<<<
No, Billy, we won't. I warned you boneheads weeks ago to forget success with this team.
Remember Green Bay in Jan? I do.
We were and are pretenders.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 11th, 2011
10:35 pm
TCCB
What’s up with the LOSERS making even more excuses for their franchise 1/2 qb?
Can’t wait until next Sunday……….. HA HA HA.
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
10:36 pm
Sanchez just threw a pass over 20 years..wow! forgot what that looked like
oldbird
September 11th, 2011
10:36 pm
Just like the dawgs, we will be 0-2 after next week
Rodney Johnson
September 11th, 2011
10:37 pm
ATL Defense certainly gets as much blame as Ryan. That “attempt” at tackling Forte early on was a joke of an effort by the team. To even let a Cutler-led team defeat you that thoroughly speaks volumes as to where a huge part of this team’s problems lie.
Plus, Ryan can’t (not won’t) throw downfield. Guy’s got a weak arm, sorry Falcon fans. Did he even attempt a bomb today?
John
September 11th, 2011
10:37 pm
groundfog….we recruit “high character” guys here at Falconville. We don’t need real playas or Pro Bowlers here, we need choir boys to represent our conservative ideals here in the South.
darkfalconcw
September 11th, 2011
10:38 pm
Can someone tell me why we gave away 4 draft choice for Julio Jones? It’s nothing against julio but when your OC don’t know how to call plays it seems like we wasted these draft picks. Plain & simple we need a coaching staff that knows how to call plays on both sides of the ball. When will Mike Smith take it upon himself to tell his coaching staff to RISE UP or RAISE OUT. I’m tired of hearing we got out coached or out played. Please Mr. owner, Mr. GM, & Mr. Pres. find yourself a coaching staff that can coach this team because the one you have now they will never RISE UP when they have too!!!!
phil
September 11th, 2011
10:38 pm
Go ahead and write it down…
Eagles 45 – Sorry Falcons 15
Sigh…
saints#1
September 11th, 2011
10:39 pm
The Falcon’s forgot to…. RISE UP ! Falcons are sorry…. Saints will get another Super Bowl ring !
phil
September 11th, 2011
10:40 pm
Fire TD!
Jim Moron
September 11th, 2011
10:40 pm
Only reason Cox got the one Championship in 95 was because Glavine pitched the game of this life with a game six shutout and one of the best Braves clutch power hitters ever in big games David Justice hitting that 8th inning home run to win the game 1-0..Cox got lucky.. Its good to be lucky!
Right Mr Richt?
John
September 11th, 2011
10:41 pm
Phil….I agree, I think Vick is gonna try to rub Blanks nose in it. He may put up fantasy numbers with this Falcons “much improved” defense.
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
10:42 pm
john..
your exactly tight. I wanted Rex Ryan badly..but he was probably too fat for Blank..did not uphold the corporate image.. Mike smith could not hold a candle to Ryan’s schemes and coaching abilities. We need coaches who can outscheme, not administrators like Smith.
Ben
September 11th, 2011
10:42 pm
I think the media underestimates the psychological torment the fanbase went through from the Packers loss. NOTHING is guaranteed in the NFL and this was just salt in the wound.
Jim Moron
September 11th, 2011
10:42 pm
Mckay just got promoted to CEO? Hey Greyhound is waiting for you too…
ijonathan
September 11th, 2011
10:43 pm
groundfog…is that the 20 yard pass over the middle that got intercepted and returned to the 1 yard line?
Jimmy
September 11th, 2011
10:43 pm
Moron:
Your name says it all.
Because you don’t like Cox that win was “lucky”.
The slip of your agenda is showing missy.
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
10:44 pm
ijonathan..
lol that was the next pass but at least he tries to throw it downfiled, unlike mtr. dink and dunk
Najeh Davenpoop
September 11th, 2011
10:46 pm
Having said my piece about Ryan, though, I think y’all are way overreacting to this loss.
Look at the splits last year for Ryan. QB rating indoors: 100.2. QB rating outdoors: 76.2. The Falcons were 9-2 indoors and 4-2 outdoors. Safe to say, they are a much, much better team when they are playing under a roof, and 12 of their final 15 games this season are in a dome. I am not that surprised that they underperformed today, but I wouldn’t be concerned unless they lay an egg next week.
M&M
September 11th, 2011
10:46 pm
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
10:34 pm
Our best D players were brought in by Mckay. It’s time to start calling TD a failure. He drafted Ryan, who is regressing also.
I agree, TD job and reputation is on the line. He gambled that players he had, were going to come through, But they haven’t. He also didn’t make a big splash in free agency like he could have. His job should be on the line like coach ! How many years will be before the Falcons have a 1st round pick ?! This is really, really bad !!!
John
September 11th, 2011
10:47 pm
Dallas is putting a butt whopping on the Jets featuring Prettyboi Ryan…
Jbcatl
September 11th, 2011
10:50 pm
The Falcons are not equipped either on the field nor in the coaching talent to compete with the best in the NFL. An 8-8 season may be a stretch for this team. I didn’t expect miracles but c’mon, our crappy secondary has made zero progress. We will not beat good QBs, let alone average players like Cutler. Pretty sad.
Jimmy
September 11th, 2011
10:51 pm
groundfog:
Let me get this straight–
Ryan is no good.
Mike Smith is no good.
TD is no good.
Yet somehow we went 13-3 last year.
I guess that was luck in your estimation?
Pathetic.
M&M
September 11th, 2011
10:52 pm
I agree, TD job should be on the line ! He gambled big time on the players he already had, To become better ! It ain’t working ! He refused to sign any other big time free agents out there. He let Philly get all of them. Why would he gamble like that !
This is not good. How many years the Falcons have to wait to get another 1st round pick ?!
John
September 11th, 2011
10:52 pm
Najeh…maybe Blank needs to consider Ryan’s record indoors to outdoors before he tries to build a outdoor stadium in ATL.
gadawgs
September 11th, 2011
10:53 pm
They suck
SAD
September 11th, 2011
10:53 pm
At least Ryan completed one long pass today. Oops, nevermind no he didn’t.
gadawgs
September 11th, 2011
10:54 pm
Did I mention that they suck.
M&M
September 11th, 2011
10:54 pm
Jim Moron
September 11th, 2011
10:40 pm
Only reason Cox got the one Championship in 95 was because Glavine pitched the game of this life with a game six shutout and one of the best Braves clutch power hitters ever in big games David Justice hitting that 8th inning home run to win the game 1-0..Cox got lucky.. Its good to be lucky!
Right Mr Richt?
Ah, I think it was the bottom of the sixth ?!
gadawgs
September 11th, 2011
10:54 pm
What a complete freaking joke. And I thought UGA was bad.
bart
September 11th, 2011
10:55 pm
What people don’t seem to realize is that Mike Smith never bought into the wide open offensive philosophy. The proverbial 3 yards and a cloud of dust is his style. As long as he’s coach don’t expect that to change. This will make the trade for Julio a huge failure cause he won’t get used the way TD wants. Look for a rising conflict between TD & Smith in the coming weeks. Smith is a very conservative coach and won’t change.
gadawgs
September 11th, 2011
10:56 pm
Sorry but #2 ain’t all that. Our offensive line def is not all that. They really suck.
gadawgs
September 11th, 2011
10:57 pm
Ryan CANNOT throw deep. Does not have the arm. Why draft Julio if you can’t get it to him.
Jim Moron
September 11th, 2011
10:58 pm
Jbird go ta bed..
M&M
September 11th, 2011
10:58 pm
John
September 11th, 2011
10:41 pm
Phil….I agree, I think Vick is gonna try to rub Blanks nose in it. He may put up fantasy numbers with this Falcons “much improved” defense.
And was it Blank’s fault he was fighting dogs ?! When someone dies, Don’t the sun rise the next day ?! Vick was in jail and Falcons life went on !! Nobody, including the fans, did nothing to michael Vick !
Gump319
September 11th, 2011
11:02 pm
Hey!! I have a idea.. Let’s sign David Garrard!!!!!!
Jimmy Moron
September 11th, 2011
11:02 pm
He is..Enough said….lol
Jimmy Moron
September 11th, 2011
11:04 pm
Ice for Stafford
John
September 11th, 2011
11:04 pm
M&M….a lil sensitive aren’t you buddy? Matty Ice, is that you?!
Mystikal
September 11th, 2011
11:04 pm
Thought this was a Falcons blog, why is everyone talking about Mike Vick? And if he is so bad, then why do the same people keep bringing his name up? What really goes on?
Brutal
September 11th, 2011
11:06 pm
Totally pathetic performance. Add it to the 46 years of disappointment this franchise has delivered.
John
September 11th, 2011
11:06 pm
Mystikal…you should know why Vick name keeps coming up.
VICK IS THE MAN RIGHT CHA!!!